If the weather cooperates, anglers who get out to depths of 80 feet or more should find gag grouper stacked on ledges and rock piles. Cooler temperatures draw gags close to shore, but very cold water drives them deep. During the bitter cold last winter, anglers in the Middlegrounds and Elbow caught monster grouper.

Our boat made several trips that produced big catches of gags, some 20 pounds and heavier, and big mangrove snapper. Dead sardines work, but live bait will keep them biting.

Our standard bottom rigs are 4 feet of 90-pound monofilament, a 6/0 hook and a 6- to 8-ounce weight, depending on current. For snapper we use a 3- to 4-ounce weight, 5 feet of 40-pound fluorocarbon and a 2/0 circle hook.

The fishing is good, but safety comes first. Most VHF radios have a 25-mile range, and cell phones don't work that far out. Don't even consider the trip in boats with no EPIRB, under 26 feet or with a range of less than 200 miles.

-- Ed Walker charters out of Palm Harbor. Call (727) 944-3474 or e-mail TarponEd@aol.com.

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